Consider health effects when buying flooring

Environmentally friendly materials moving into affordable mainstream

Builder Michael Cormier uses only environmentally friendly materials in the houses he constructs, especially when it comes to flooring.

Photograph by: Greg Southam
, Edmonton Journal

That beautiful new floor you've just had installed could be bad for your health, says Allison MacLean.

MacLean and her husband, Marc Nipp, own Carbon Environmental Boutique, a home decor and renovation store where the products share a common characteristic: They're as gentle on the environment as they are on your body.

are on your body. "We've had customers come in and say (that) after they put in their floor, their health deteriorated," MacLean says.

says. "They were feeling really nauseous or headachy or couldn't get out of bed, and they went to their doctor who said, 'Well, what's new?' and the only thing that was new was their floor."

Many floors contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a group of toxic chemicals that include formaldehyde.

When the vapours release -or off-gas -into the home, they can trigger asthma attacks and cause headaches, coughing and fatigue.

"We've had a couple of customers just in 2010 alone that had to rip out brand-new floors because they were off-gassing so many harsh chemicals," says MacLean. "I think if you're not aware of what chemicals can be inside a product, it can really take you by surprise."

That's one reason why Michael Cormier uses only environmentally friendly materials in the houses he builds.

Cormier and partner Riall Laplante own North House Inc., a company that focuses on energy-efficient, sustainable housing.

Floors in their two-storey show home at 10170 145th St. in the Grovenor neighbourhood, are bamboo or carpeted in wool.

"Homes are becoming much more air-tight, the big thing we're trying to do now is to make the house as buttoned down as possible so you're not wasting as much energy," Cormier says.

says. "As we get tighter and tighter, if we have a lot of products in the home off-gassing, and they're not being vented out, it becomes not a very healthy environment."

The floor can be one of the biggest culprits, he says.

"The floor is one of your largest products throughout your home," Cormier says.

MacLean agrees. "If flooring, generally speaking, was a safe product, we probably wouldn't offer it here. But because flooring . is not a healthy product, it's one that we need to have in our store."

store." If you're on a quest for a healthy floor, shop carefully, MacLean says.

Adhesives used to hold a floor in place, as well as some colour stains for hardwood are full of unhealthy chemicals.

"A lot of people with allergies and asthma will get rid of carpets to put in hardwood, thinking that it's just wood," she says. "But they forget what products could have been added to it or finishes used on it. So it's always good to pick a healthy hardwood if possible."

MacLean and Cormier like EcoTimber, a hardwood company that promotes its products as free of toxic materials.

Carbon carries the EcoTimber line. It also carries toxic-free linoleum.

It also carries toxic-free linoleum. "Linoleum before 1950 was a very healthy product, and starting in the '50s they started plasticizing it and adding vinyl, and that's what's offgassing and not so healthy," says MacLean.

The linoleum at Carbon contains linseed oil and natural raw materials, including rosin, which is tapped from pine trees, and wood and cork flours.

"This is the old-fashioned stuff . it's beautiful," she says.

It's also easy to care for. "Generally speaking, a damp mop -and you're good to go."

and you're good to go." But is environmentally friendly, toxic-free flooring out of the price range of ordinary consumers?

No, says MacLean. "Wool carpet compared to a polyester or an olefin carpet is not really comparing apples to apples," she says. "But we have stuff, like a wool carpet entry-level price at $3 a square foot. There are other ones that are $8 or $9 or $10 a square foot, but most of them are falling into the $6 range."

into the $6 range." Wool is long lasting and filters allergens and dust naturally. It's also low in toxicity.

"Most carpets are either olefin or polyester and they can off-gas quite significantly during the first year," says MacLean. "After three or five years, those carpets start looking a little worse for wear and a wool carpet 30 years from now will be just as beautiful as the day it was installed."

stalled." Linoleum starts around $3.50 a square foot and hardwood runs between $6 and $8 a square foot.

"EcoTimber does wonderful sales every once in a while and we'll see prices drop below $6 and down into the $5 and $4 range," says MacLean.

"Some people think you're limited as to the options you can get with green products," he says. "But that is growing exponentially as the culture shift occurs and therefore the pricing will become more in line with products."

Many of his own clients are among the converted.

"Price is still a concern. But most people, if you give them two options they will take the greener of the options if there's not much of a (price) difference because it often makes a good case for a healthier lifestyle."

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